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Thursday, August 7, 2014

Adi Shankara was not only a philosopher and poet but he was
a great explorer. After listening to multiple stories across India where he has
left behind his footprints, I started wondering how extensively he has
travelled.

From putting Indian philosophy on theworld map, to creating beautiful hymns on God
and Goddess, to interpreting Upanishads in the light of Advaitha, to build
crystal clear philosophical argumentation, Shankara has done it all in just 32 years.

I always wonder probably Adi Shankara was the first trekker
and Travel Guru of India. Let me tell you how?

Shankara travelled India from internet

I go to Kalady in Kerala tohear about wonderful deeds of lad Shankara. It is the
birth place of this great seer. I come to Sringeri in Karnataka which still
reverberates the name of Shankara. Being very closer to hometown, we often visited this place and I grew up
listening to spiritual tales about sage Shankara. Sharada Peetha in Sringeri,
established by Shankara is one of the great seats of learning (Peetha). Advaitha
philosophy took shape here, many philosophers emerged from Sringeri spreading
the Vedantic lore.

I go to Puri in Orissa, again to see his footprints. He has
established another Peetha here. I go to Kashmir there is a hill named after him. Shankaracharya hill in Srinagar is one of the major attractions. I didn't like the frisking experience and high security before climbing up the hill. There is a temple for Shiva on the top of the hill. I was told it was named after Shankaracharya after visit.

Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar - Image from internet

I go to Badarinath in the Himalayas
where there are plenty of places to triumph his visit. It is he who started the
tradition of South Indian priest for Badrinath temple and North Indian priest
for Rameshwara in South India. What an idea to connect North and South!! I go
to Joshimath, again I see his Peetha there.

Badrinath temple in Badri

There is one more Peetha he has established in Dwaraka in
Gujarat. Also, there is Shankaracharya Samadhi in Kedarnath which is supposedly
the place where he left his body.

These are the few places I know about his visits. But I am sure
there are lot many places where he walked through and left behind a tale.He travelled to spread Advaitha to as far away places as possible.

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I am amazed by the way he has traversed across India- South
to North, East to West by walk when absolutely no facilities were there.
Remember, he had travelled in 8th century to these places which are
considered to be difficult to access even today due to landslides, floods,
dense forest and extreme weather. For me, Adi Shankara is a pioneer of trekking
and most travelled Indian. Shankara was a barefooted philosopher in the real
sense.

Have you come across any stories about Shankara
while travelling ? Pls share.